UPDATE: President Donald Trump has sparked widespread backlash after issuing a scathing threat to The New York Times, labeling its reporting on his health as ‘treasonous.’ This confrontation unfolded late Tuesday night following Trump’s speech in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, where he aimed to discuss affordability but veered into various contentious topics.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his discontent with the newspaper, stating that its coverage was not only inaccurate but also harmful to the nation. “I actually believe it’s seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean ‘THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,'” Trump declared. He further added, “The best thing that could happen to this Country would be if The New York Times would cease publication because they are a horrible, biased, and untruthful ‘source’ of information.”
The urgency of Trump’s comments comes as political analysts and social media users quickly pointed out the irony of his remarks. Evan Rosenfeld, deputy digital director for The Bulwark, tweeted, “Incredibly rich coming from a man who wouldn’t shut up about Biden’s failing mental state. Pot, meet kettle.”
Another political activist, Mike Young, emphasized the implications of Trump’s threats against the press, stating, “Every time Tiny Hands calls reporters ‘Enemies of the People’ and hints we should ‘do something’ about the New York Times, he is telling you he thinks the First Amendment is a character flaw in the Constitution.”
Trump’s rhetoric has raised concerns over free speech and the boundaries of political discourse. Notably, journalist Marcy Wheeler pointed out the paradox in Trump’s past statements, mentioning, “Turns out every third tweet Trump sent starting in 2020 was a seditious attack on Joe Biden.”
The fallout from Trump’s comments is expected to resonate within political circles and among media outlets, with calls for accountability from various commentators. As the situation develops, observers are closely monitoring how Trump’s relationship with the press evolves and what implications this may have for the dialogue surrounding freedom of the press in America.
Stay tuned for more updates as the story unfolds.
